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ADDRESS 




OF THE 



DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN 

YOUNG MEN'S GENERAL COMMITTEE, 



OF THE 



CITY OF NEW-YORK, 



TO THE 

• 



REPUBLICAN YOUNG HEN OF THE STATE. 



PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE COMMITTEE. 



FERNANDO WOOD, Chairman. 



R. B. CONNOLLY AND SAMUEL P. GOLDSON, Secretaries. 



PRINTED BY JARED W. BELL, NEW ERA OFFICE, AND CORNER OF ANN AND 

NASSAU STREETS. 

1840. 






7.-3 {0<f 3 



'VoA a 



Dim 



ESS 



The Democratic Republican Young Men's Ge- 
neral Committee of the City and County of New 
York, impressed with the important issues to be 
decided by the People in the coming Presidential 
and State elections, earnestly and respectfully 
appeal to their Fellow Citizens, the Young Men 
of the State of New York. 

We address you the more confidently, knowing 
that, as young men, you have not, as yet, become 
irretrievably involved in the meshes of an iniqui- 
tous and delusive system, that under the specious 
name of "credit," has engendered and stimulated 
that spirit of speculation, that has swept like a 
pestilence over the entire nation, involving in the 
same ruin the innocent and guilty, dooming to the 
like humiliation the honest and the fraudulent — a 
system that has made the mechanic ashamed of 
his little earnings — the laborer to throw away the 
implements of his toil — the farmer to plant cities 
instead of corn; that has robbed industry to 
pamper idleness — that has scorned frugality, and 
made extravagance and luxury honorable — that 
has deluded the people with phantoms of wealth, 
and enthroned corruption in our halls of legisla- 
tion. 

We avow ourselves as the admirers of the 
Democratic Principle in its broadest and most 
expansive sense, and supporters of the present 
National Administration as based upon that prin- 
ciple. Our political faith is that of the early 
Apostles of Modern Democracy. We desire no 
concealment on this point; convinced of the 
purity of those principles ; believing them based 
upon and incorporated with truth itself; feeling 
that they commend themselves not only to the 
enlightened reason of man when viewed in the 
abstract, but that in their operation they tend to 
humanize and to ennoble the nature of man. to 
render him less regardful of self, and more mind- 
ful of the welfare of the many, and sensible that 
in their application to legislation the happiness of 
the human race has been greatly promoted, we 
feel a .firm assurance that they need but to be fully 



proclaimed and understood to secure their final 
and lasting triumph. Our policy is in conformity 
with these avowals, and aims to secure a just end by 
laudable means. By the truth of the Democratic 
principle we are willing to stand ; and if it be an 
error, then in it, and supporting it, we are con- 
tent to fall. 

The Democratic party, we venture to assert, 
and in this we are fully borne out by the history 
of the past, has never presented itself or its can- 
didates before the people of the Republic without 
a full, open and unreserved expression of its doc- 
trines and measures. This course is demanded 
alike by considerations of honesty and true policy. 
The period has long passed since the masses of 
mankind were willing to follow self-constituted 
leaders, without inquiring into causes and reasons ; 
and the intelligent Democracy of America would 
as soon, in fact, much sooner, engage in n. 
war without inquiring into the justice of the 
causes for which it was undertaken, than fol- 
low political leaders too cowardly or too haughty 
to avow their principles. No party, but such 
as is conscious of duplicity, ignorant of the 
spirit of the age, and the character of the Ameri- 
can people, and undervalues the operation of 
Democratic institutions, would dare adopt a disin- 
genuous course. 

The Democratic Principle teaches the perfect 
civil and political equality of mankind — it con- 
siders the individual man as an intelligent sentient 
untt in the political system, with rational faculties 
given him to measure out his destiny, and a con- 
science, a beacon in his bosom, for the monitions 
of which he is alone accountable to the God who 
gave it. Government it views as an organization 
or association instituted for the protection of men 
in the social state, and for the purpose of securing 
them, while in that state, in the uninterrupted 
enjoyment of their natural- rights — an arbiter to 
decide upon clashing interests — a guardian to 
succor the weak and ignorant — a protector to 
ward oft' the attacks and aggressions of the pow 



erful and designing. Not, as Federalism asserts 
-. divine institution, against whose decrees it is 
impious for man to raise his hand or voice, (Vide 
Sedition Law of Jo3m Adams.) No : we reject 
the doctrine, it was not that of the Fathers of this 
Republic; had this obtained, the declaration of 
our country's independence would have been 
strangled in its cradle. Government should be 
considered as framed and instituted solely for the 
promotion of the happiness of men, and for the pro- 
tection of their individual natural rights, — and 
when subversive of these ends, to be reformed and 
revolutionized. The ballot is the legitimate and 
peaceable weapon with which to accomplish these 
purposes ; and no other should be used, unless its 
voice be perverted and its responses strangled 
When Jefferson became a candidate for 
Presidential chair in opposition to the elder Adams; 
party lines were distinctly drawn between De- 
mocracy and Federalism, between the advocates 



doctrine of " generations," and m proving the 
"continuous identity'' of society. Our endeavor 
has been to establish the " continuous identity" of 
the Federal and Whig party. To ourselves it is a 
matter of astonishment, in taking this survey, that 
after the lapse of so many years, when a large pro-* 
portion of the prominent actors in the early con- 
troversy have passed away, and their voices are no 
longer heard struggling for mastery in the councils 
of the nation, when with new men and different 
times new questions have arisen, that so complete 
a parallelism of measures can be traced. The 
party we oppose has again and again changed its 
name, but its designs are the same. It has, like 

wrench convicted of some breach of the laws 
counlry, again and again assumed an " alias" 
n " alias" as often as the verdict of the people 

pronounced a sentence of condemnation. But 

the mere change of name rarely, of itself, re- 

forms a felon of his propensities, or washes out the 



ese name 

its the w 

ms, has pi 



of equal laws and those who supported special stains of a debauchee, so neither have the van- 
privileges, between those who hated the British names assumed by the opposition, whether as Na- 
Constitution and those who considered it the tional Republicans, Whigs, or even Democratic 
most perfect instrument « ever devised by the wit Whigs, with the minor adjuncts of Anti-Masonry 
of man." It was then that the principles as well and Abolitionism, caused them, as a party to 
as the measures and policy of each party were abandon their early Federal propensities. Po'liti 
clearly denned and openly proclaimed. There cal leprosy is hard to cure, and were the basin of 
were no political cowards tiien. During the the Atlantic converted into a Bethesda, and the 
administration of the elder Adams, the Federal Whig party to make ablutions therein, it would 
.party had succeeded in procuring the passage of scarce suffice to wash away the blemish, 
the Alien and Sedition Laws, and entered upon Within the course of the last year, the opposi- 
the contest with this stock in trade, this acquired tion have presented themselves before the people 
capital, and with high and glowing hopes of the of the Republic in a position that merits, and we 
future. It was asked for special enactments— trust will receive, the signal rebuke and condem- 
for what it was pleased to call salutary checks nation of our countrymen. It has assumed a 
upon the people— for a consolidated government— policy, suggested by the success attending a recent 
for a centralization of power— for a monied oli- and very extraordinary exhibition. Behold a 
garchy, finder the imposing title of a National figure— grim enough for a hero— magnificently 
Bank— for magnificent schemes of what it denomi- arrayed in robes of honor and dignity— looking 
nated Internal Improvement— for a standing very wise, and saying nothing— great men talk 
army. It opposed naturalization, immigration, little — it is an attribute of the common crowd— ho 
direct representation of the people, and universal thinks not — thinking is troublesome, and some- 
suffrage. The Democracy, on the contrary, assum- 
ing the intelligence and honesty of the mass, 
feared no evil from the utmost freedom of popular 
expression — they opposed unequal laws and the 
conferring of special privileges on men, companies, 
or corporations — they asserted the sovereignty of 

the separate States, and opposed a consolidated the Whigs nominate Maelzel's automaton ? Why 
form of government— they denounced a United not buy the machine and try to make it Presi- 
States Bank as alike dangerous and unconstitu- dent ? But, in fact, they have done what is 
tional, and internal improvements so called, under equivalent— else why refuse to assert a single 
the patronage of the general government, as the political principle, and maintain a perfect silence 
sure precursor of national bankruptcy, of political as to the important questions of legislation now 
demoralization, and of corrupt and partial legisla- agitating the nation ? Is your candidate in favor 
tion ; a standing army, always and in every age the of a National Bank ? of an Independent Treasury ? 
willing tool of despotism. It desired that govern- 
ment should be established upon the simplest 
form, without ostentation, show, or splendor, and 
that it should set to the people a model of frugality 
and economy — that our land should be the home 
of the oppressed of every clime, and that the will 
of the people should be in its expression free and 
untrammelled, and when expressed, the law of the 
land. The judgment of the people was taken 
upon these issues, and they decided in favor of 
Democracy and its principles. And the same 



times a dangerous and responsible exercise — he 
leaves that to his keepers — but still he wields a 
mighty power. He ean, in obedience to secret 
influences, move and remove ; he can put down 
one, and take up another. What desirable quali- 
fications for a Federal President ! Why did not 

? 



of a high Tariff? of Internal Improvements? of 
the Bankrupt Law ? of Slavery or Abolition ? 
What is the answer ? Vote for our candidate ; 
take him as you would take a wife, with a feeling 
" somewhat akin to generous confidence," and 
ask no questions till the election is consummated. 
It is not our desire or intention to undervalue 
any services that the Federal Whig candidate for 
the Presidency may have rendered his country. 
His supporters have entered into lengthy argu- 
ments to prove his courage — they are the best 
party, with the exception of a single term, has for judges of the necessity of the task — for ourselves, 
forty years directed the affairs of this nation ; and we know that William H. Harrison commanded 
where, may we with just pride ask, where, on the in certain battles, but we also know that Rich- 
face of the earth, is a better government, or a ard M. Johnson, the Democratic candidate for 
more contented people to be found ? the Vice Presidency, fought in person, and 

The present Whig State Executive, in his late bears upon his body the wounds he received in 
message to the Legislature of this State, has taken those wars. The resurrectionists, who have be- 
great pains in attempting to assail the Jefferson i an taken themselves to the study of the history of 



thn w»r of '13 may proceed in their disinterested services, to slumber for a long period in the pes- 
2L? and coSo P their military and political sess l,a if the " favored few." Perhaps it was too 
exhTnXons w Shoot molestation from us. They. va i ua ble a treasure for the public gaze. But the 
mv Agnize if they ean, deeds that have slum- same Yankee curiosity so troublesome to the move- 
be dr a quarter of a century into life. Our mC nts of the Whigs heretofore, demanded its pro 
Winess is not ,o much with the past as with the duction. At length, some months from the period 
K^MdfatSe, with the acts and opinions of of its receipt, the public are permitted to peruse 
n en b cZ fwe were born, as with those they now this mo st important disclosure. It is somewhat 
eXtain and propose in the future to advance : remarkable, that in this letter -no allusion, direct or 
m in Se natural world, and in the physical con- indirec t, is made to either Abolition or a U. S. 
II ution of man changes are constantly progress- Bank, and as to its statement of present opinions 
Tnl s .too in their views, opinions, and senti- G r its endorsements of previous views, we leave 
„fnt°* And the observation of every day shows the public to judge from the fo lowing , extracts 
us men who have entered upon life with generous containing the substance of the letter, fins letter 
and enl bhtened views, whose bosoms in later is dated North Bend, Ohio, February 28th, 1840 
years have been frozen over with cold, calculating and directed to the Hon. Guhan C Verplanck, and 
Sshnesa We claim, therefore, and have a otnc r members of the New York Legislature fa- 
iwhf lo know the present opinions of those who yorable to the election of Wm. H. Harrison. 
aS our votes. But why this fastidiousness, this « The people of this country do not rely on pro- 
delicacy as to the past life and acts of the Fede- fessions, promises, and pledges They know that 
ral candidate. Is it, we ask, to prevent his being if a candidate is unprincipled he will not scruple 
auctioned in regard to the bill approved and to give any pledge that may be required of him , 
Sdoybim, SELLING WHITE MEN INTO a nd as little will he hesitate to vio ate it." 
Sf AVERY FOR THE CRIME OF POV- Again-" I have declined to give any further 
ERTY f If so, the artifice will not succeed ; it pledges or opinions on subjects which belong to 
is hefore the people, and they will remember it. the future legislation of Congress ; because. 

The first communications addressed to the Fede- « l st , I conceive, for the reasons given to Mr 
ral candidate were answered by a committee of Williams and Mr. Denney, that Congress should 
keepers a Triumvirate, a Regency, to direct the be left, as much as possible, untrammelled by ex- 
affairs of state during minority, who, after gently ecutive influence in the discharge of its legislative 
removing the impertinence, or what perhaps may functions ; and that a better guarantee tor the 
b-> called the Yankee curiosity, of those who de- correct conduct of a chief magistrate may be 
sire to pry into General Harrison's opinions, tell found in his character, and the course of his ior- 
the inquirers in substance, " to ask no questions, mer life, than in pledges and opinions given dur- 
and then they will be told no lies." This ma- m g the pendency of a doubtful contest ; and that, 
noeUvre was, however, too shallow for even the although recognising the right of the people to be 
supporters of the " divine right," and accordingly informed of the leading political opinions of the 
the committee was discharged, and the General candidates for office or trust, yet as it regards the 
enters upon the awful and responsible duties of subjects upon which the legislature may be called 
self-government. Having now, like a boy leaving to act, the pledges and opinions should be required, 
school, commenced thc° world upon his own if required at all, of the candidates for Congress, 
hook, we shall trace his steps for a short space. « 2d, Because the habit of considering a single 
That we may do him no injustice, we give his own individual as the source from which all the meas- 
words in a letter in reply to Mr. James Lyons, of Ul - es of the government should emanate, is de- 
Va., dated June lst, 1840 : grading to a republic, and of the most dangerous 

" I have had, indeed, a great number of appli- tendency, 
cations from individuals (nine-tenths, at least, my « 3d, Because, upon all questions in regard 
opponents) requiring me to reiterate what I have to which, under any circumstances, it would be 
said or written upon the subject of the U. S. a t all proper for me to make answers, my senti- 
Bank, Abolitionism, &c. I have declined to an- men ts have already been fully and clearly given 
swer them of late at all ; amongst other reasons, to the public in a manner to entitle them to cre- 
because it was physically impossible that I should dence, as I conceive that no honest man would 
do it, and as they all require my opinions in manu- su ffer his friends to publish documents m his 
script, particularly addressed to the writers, they name, which were not genuine, or containing 
would not be satisfied with my writing one letter opinions which he was not willing to endorse." 
and sending a printed copy to each. I was deter- From these extracts, it will be seen that this 
mined, however, to avail myself of the first favor- letter referred to by Gen. Harrison himself, as con- 
able opportunity, and referring to the letters and taining a declaration of his sentiments and opin- 
specches I had'made on the subjects I have men- ions, is a mere apology for making no avowal 
tioned, to endorse them all. This I have recently whatsoever. The only importance it possesses, 
done in a letter to a committee appointed by the i s to prove most conclusively either the incom- 
Whig members of the Legislature of New York, petence or the duplicity of the Whig candi- 
You^ will probably see it published by the time date. These letters were addressed to his own 
this reaches you." political friends, and by them published. If 

In the above General Harrison distinctly states they have misjudged the effect they are cal- 
that in his letter to the Whig members of the eulated to produce on the public mind, the 
Legislature of the State of New York, he has f au lt is solely their own ; and they have no one 
availed himself " of the first favorable opportunity" to blame but themselves and their candidate. 
of referring " to letters and speeches" he had \y e cannot better express the feelings produced 
made "on" those subjects, (the U. S. Bank and U p 0n the minds of a people who have hereto- 
Abolitionism) and to endorse them all." No f ore been accustomed to a frank and republican 
wonder that public curiosity was somewhat interchange of opinions with their candidates for 
aroused, and that the letter referred to was office, than by giving the following extract of a 
eagerly sought for and inquired after. For some letter of Mr. McDuffie, of South Carolina, well 
motive it was permitted, like General Harrison's known to the people of the Union as one of the 



most talented and distinguished of southern 
statesmen, and heretofore an ardent supporter of 

24^840r rty ' iS dat6d Cherr yHu% J«ne 

" If there were no other objections to his (Gen. 
era! Harrison's) election, the audacious and in. 
suiting position he has assumed, of refusing to 
disclose his opinions to the people on subjects of 
vital importance to their welfare while askino- 
their suffrages for the highest office in their gift! 
and the disgusting mummery of log cabins and 
beer barrels, which would disgrace the orgies of 
the lowest demagogue, by which his nomination 
has been heralded forth, even by the highest of 
his partisans, would be quite conclusive with me " 
In contrast to this picture of duplicity, weak, 
ness, and concealment, we, with feelings of pride 
as New Yorkers, as Americans, and as Demo' 
crats, present the open, undisguised, and manly 
course of J 

MARTIN VAN BUREN, 
our candidate for the Presidency. When the 
people have asked him for bread, he has not given 
them a stone ; and when for his opinions, he has 
not sent them empty away. His views have been 
iully and freely expressed on every important sub- 
ject on which they have been required. He can 
no longer be accused of non-committalism. His 
enemies have retracted the charge. His Roman 
courage has astonished and awed, while it has 
won lac admiration even of his opponents. His 
political honesty is admitted by all. In a recent 
letter to Mr. Cary and others, of Elizabeth City, 
he remarks: "The authority of the elector to 
call in good faith on the candidate for his favor, 
lor an unreserved avowal of his opinions in regard 
to all matters of public concern that it may be- 
come his official duty to act upon, is not only of 
inestimable value to the success of political insti- 
tutions like ours, but may, I think, without ex- 
aggeration be regarded as indispensable to the 
maintenance of republican government." Mar- 
tin Van Burcn never had a committee to guard 



his conscience, to do his thinking, or write his 
letters. A native of the state of New York, from 
his childhood living among us, unaided by family 
influence or fortune, he has risen from the hum- 
ble condition of a poor boy in a small country 
town, to the highest office in the gift of the great- 
est Republic the world has ever seen. Nor has 
this been the result of a single glaring deed, that 
has dazzled and bewildered the people with its 
splendor, and added a false glory to the performer ; 
on the contrary, his course has "been slow, steady' 
and progressive, and he owes his present exalted' 
position to the calm, reflecting, and sober judg- 
ment of his fellow-citizens. For thirty years, his 
name has been familiar to the people of his native 
state ; and in the various trusts which they have 
confided to their favorite son, he has, by his honest 
and disinterested performance of his duty, con- 
tributed to his own honor, and received from the 
people the tribute of their gratitude. The example 
of Martin Van Buren is worthy the emulation of 
the young men of our state and country. His life 
is-an illustration of the operation of our democratic 
institutions, and its goal equally attainable by 
those who, like Martin Van Buren, enter upon 
life with enlarged and patriotic views and honest 
principles. 

In the late war with Great Britain, Mr. Van 
Burcn was a firm and consistent supporter of the 
measures necessary to its success, and in 1813 de- 
clared, " that every man who is in truth and in fact 
an American, will say that war, and war alone, 



was our only refuge from national degradation oar 
on y course to national prosperity." He nas C on 
sistently opposed the ruinous abuses of the credU 
and banking systems, and that reckless careerTf 
madness, extravagance, and prodigality, m'sn am 
ed "internal improvement" Hp ;« ft 

ttT^ocS ^Ltle-Tutfe^ TT^ 
all others, will sLSthe J ' V an 1w *' °{ 
honored to posterity, and eZlI^ZZ^ 
and greatest of patriots, and which will mark his 
administration as an era in the hiS!™ 7 
country and in the march of freedom Jthe « 
umphant establishment of the leadmg measure 
of his administration, the — S measure 

w. IN ^ E P EJ *DENT TREASURY. 

of le'piSdenr *£** ****** ^ the duti - 
ot the Fiesidency, there was a nominal surplus 

revenue of thirty-two millions of dollars. Tlds 

immense sum was entrusted to the different 

Wr tTt ^ S T ral S J at f ' f0r safe keepit sud 
ject to the orders of the general government 
This opened the way for the greatest outrage that 
has been perpetrated in any age against the ^ov 
ernment of a free people. Wese iLtUutionsS" 
getting the nature of the "trust," and the legal 
and moral obligations they had assumed, so^on 
pioved themselves as destitute of a conscience as 
they are avowedly of a soul. By a series of ex- 
pansions and contractions artfully contrived and 
concerted, they, m the first instance, laid the mer- 
cantile community prostrate, and subdued most of 
them to their control and bidding. These power- ' 
ful institutions, aided by an influential class, now 
conceived themselves sufficiently armed to pros, 
trate the government and subdue the people. 
And the result proved that they had not miscal- 
culated their strength. They triumphed. But 
their triumph was short. The whole revenue of 
the country was, at this time, in the possession of 
the banks, and by them loaned, discounted, and 
traded upon ; and when government called for a 
portion of the deposits to meet its daily and press, 
ing expenditure, not a cent could be obtained— 
Asserting their entire solvency, the banks closed 
their doors, from one end of the Union to the 
other, alike upon the people and the government : 
they stopped payment ! ! The government that 
had resisted the most powerful of foreign foes, lay 
prostrate at the feet of the banks ! ! That illegiti 
mate progeny of corruption, the U. S. Bank, had 
proven itself a reservoir of political villany, and 
the State institutions, in this case, had shown 
themselves no better. The mind of Van Buren 
conceived the remedy, the Independent Treasury. 
It has no connection with the banks. It is not 
even "antagonistic to those honestly conducted. 
18 J aS lts " ame imports, distinct, isolated, inde- 
pendent. The banks need no aid from the public 
purse ; they are able to live without such assist, 
ance ; and as to those that cannot, the sooner they 
wind up, the better for themselves and the people. 
At any rate, it is proper that the people should 
have the custody of the revenue levied upon them. 
Whence do these institutions, living at the suffer, 
ance of the people, derive their claim ? Is it be- 
cause they threw themselves into the political 
arena of 1838, and procured the election of the U. 
S. bank attorney, Seward, for governor ? If this 
be not the foundation of their claim, where is it to 
be found ? Can they show it in the letter or the 
spirit of the constitution ? We ask no develop- 
ment of meat and flour speculations. We ask 
them not to open their tomes and exhibit the ex- 






panswns of '3G, and subsoquent contractions, is exchanged rise in a greater ratio than the sink- 
thereby producing widespread distress and misery, ing value of the money. Wherein, then, is the 
We ask not the names and business of those to farmer, the planter, the artisan, benefited ? The 
whom their favors have been granted, and the debtor may be, because, as I have observed, he 
reasons that have prompted their loans. We ask gives the shadow in lieu of the substance, and in 
not the amount of defalcations and losses. It is proportion to his gain, the creditor or the body 
not necessary to go behind the marble columns, politic suffers. Whether it be a legal tender or 
The exposures of daily and spontaneous develop, not, it will, as has been observed very truly, leave 
ment are all-sufficient for our present purpose — no alternative. It must be that or nothing. An 
which is, to prove that these institutions are evil equally great is, the door it immediately opens 
neither proper or safe depositories for the govern- for speculation, by which the least designing, and 
ment treasure. perhaps most valuable part of the community, are 

The Independent Treasury will be the best of preyed upon by the more knowing and crafty 
all regulators of the currency, an equalizer of ex- speculators." 

changes. It will be an effectual check upon But better times are ahead — and more hones: 
excessive bank issues. It will expose and destroy times, it may be hoped. The passage of the IN- 
swindling palaces. It will check excessive foreign DEPENDENT TREASURY BILL has dispers- 
importations based upon inflated prices, and se- ed the doubt that has overwhelmed the financial 
cure to the laborer an adequate return for his toil, affairs of the country. Even its enemies have 
A word to the taken new courage. Else why this sudden revi- 

WORKING CLASSES. val of confidence ? The shipping fills our har- 

In the year 1836, Mr. Tallmadge boasted that bors — the sailor begs no longer for employment, 
the American credit system had reached its per- The laborer and the mechanic find an increasing 
fection. It was then that fortunes were made in demand for their services, and the busy hum of 
a day. The real " philosopher's stone" had been industry foretells better times for the sons of toil, 
found, that converted every thing, not exactly than the inflated bubble of credit has ever furnish- 
into gold, but into what Whig politicians say is ed. The country teems with abundance, render- 
better, bank paper. All property was turned into ing the farmer ample returns for his labor, and 
credits, and all credits into circulating media, pours its products upon the city at reasonable 
The merchant, the farmer, the mechanic, the la- prices. The banks, like the repentant prodig; \ 
borer, the artisan, or the professional man who confess their past sins and errors, and promise 
confined himself to his regular pursuits, was looked ture amendment. All that is wanting to c 
upon as a relic of the dark ages, and destitute of plete the work of reform, and to reap the 
" the spirit of the times ;" and the farmer, who of a long and doubtful struggle, is the triumphant 
stooped to cultivate the soil in obedience to the di- maintenance of the democratic principles here- 
rections of his Maker, was deemed a fool by the tofore asserted, and the renewed verdict of our 
modern speculator and banker, who fancied that countrymen in favor of Martin Van Buren and 
they had found a better use for it : the cottage the Independent Treasury. 

was demolished to make way for the palace; — the We now address you as inhabitants of the State 
tenements of the poor were unsightly to the eyes of New York, and implore you, while struggling 
of those who had just lert th*™*, ^^ streets were for the welfare of our common country, not to 
widened, and improvements made to aDaie uio tUi ^t the tyrannical and proscriptive course of 
nuisance. It was the paper age! These were the Q^^ )fl Federal faction that has obtained a 
prosperous times. But did the industrious classes temporary ascendency m ctre »tutc councils. Hy- 
share this prosperity, such as it was ? Were your pocrisy is their watchword — dissimulation and 
fortunes bettered ? Did the banks discount your deception the rule of their actions — and the 
notes ? the speculator take your bonds ? Did you subjection of the rights and privileges of the 
partake of the general luxury? Were your for- people, with these weapons, their aim. The 
tunes in the least bettered ? No : on the contrary, Whig Executive, Seward, who has drunk in from 
industry was poorer at that time than now. It childhood the milk of Federalism, never posses.-; d 
was then, that with wages but little higher, house a feeling in common with the Democracy of his 
rent and provisions were double their present State or country. The tool and agent of thy U. 
rates. It was then, that trades-unions were form- S. Bank and the Holland Land Company he 
ed. It was then, the flour riots occurred ; " turn- early lent himself to the American aristocracy, 
outs" were of daily occurrence, and universal dis- and at foreign courts drank deeply and willingly 
satisfaction prevailed. And more than all, it was those monarchical feelings and principles, conge- 
then, that many honest mechanics were doomed nial to his heart, and which have marked his po- 
to an ignominious punishment for refusing to work litical career. His selfish hypocrisy has disgusted 
for wages that were insufficient to preserve them- those on whom it was intended to operate, whether 
selves and their families from starvation. Re- preaching political sermons to Sunday school in- 
member this, and when the Whigs talk and prate fants on Staten Island, or addressing assemblages 
of past prosperity, bear in mind, that though it at the Tabernacle, and in violation alike of 
was prosperity to the gambler, the speculator, and propriety and decency, converting institutions 
man who lived by his wits, it was death to the organized for moral and religious purposes, into 
honest laborer. The sentiments of that immortal vehicles for political propagandism. We call upon 
patriot George Washington, bear on this subject, the Democracy to depose these profligate dema- 
and ought to be treasured up and remembered by gogues and impostors — these democrats in name, 
his countrymen. but aristocrats in every act, feeling ana deed — 

"I contend that it is by the substance, not and we allege among other reaso*=j the : following : 
with the shadow of a thing, we are to be benefited. They have trifled wit** the credit of the btate 
The wisdom of a man, in my humble opinion, of New York, and have formed a league with 
cannot at this time devise a plan by which the American speculators and the agents oi tfrmsn 
credit of our paper money would be long supported; bankers, which will, if carried out, Jay P rost ^ e 
consequently depreciation keeps pace vvith the the credit of the State at the feet of ^eipi«* 
quantity of the emission, and articles for, which it and in order the more readdy to eftect tk* 



spiracy, and deceive the unwary, have published the state, pointing them out as specially eorruo 
and diffused at home and in foreign countries, and immoral ; a law operating unequally on dif. 
statements knowingly false, as to the credit, and ferent classes, prompted in x its inception by a vin 
resources, and indebtedness of the State of New dictive spirit against a hostile city, oppressive ii 

its details, illegal in its passage, and as unconsti. 

tutional as oppressive and unjust. Against the 



Fork. 

They openly advocate a forty million Stale 
debt, and in order to prove the sincerity of their 
avowals have, during a single session, added to 
the State debt four millions of dollars. 

They desire to trammel the resources of the liv- 
ing, and to barter the labor of the unborn, by a 
vain attempt to impart reality to t!ic dreams of 
the speculator, in aiding the losing and reckless 
projects of insolvent men and incorporations, un- 
der the pretence of public improvement, the only 
Tcct of which will be to benefit the few at the 
expense of the many. 

They have carried proscription to lengths hcre- 
.o'forc unknown, sparing neither age, merit, or 
long-tried and faithful public services, and have 
proven themselves more desirous of the " spoils," 
than the public good. 

They have made an effort to prevent the nat- 
uralization of adopted citizens, by removing two 
of the judges of the Marine Court, for no other 
% sin than that of granting the requisite legal facil- 
ities for obtaining the right of citizenship, and 



passage of this law, the people, and their repre. 
sentatives m the Common Council, and in the 
Legislature, earnestly and solemnly remonstrated 

but their remonstrances were disregarded the 

bill was decreed and passed. The young men of 
the city did then, through their representatives 
demand its repeal ; but our demands were disre' 
garded and refused. We appealed to the people, 
and the people heard and sustained us. But ever! 
then, the federal Legislature, and the federal 
bank governor, were deaf— they had passed, ap. 
proved, and signed the bill. The laws of the 
Modes and Persians were not more unalterable, 
It is fastened upon New York, despite the remon. 
stranccs, the appeals, and demands of her people. 
Fellow-citizens — We have addressed you thus 
confidently on matters of general concern, as well 
as upon our own particular grievances, from e 
knowledge that as young men you are unweddec 
to the system of abuse and corruption which oui 
opponents desire to foster and extend, by a courst 
have substituted others, presumed to be less favor- of legislation dishonest in itself, and demoralizing 
able to foreigners. to the people ; and from a belief that the ardoi 

They have attempted to deprive the Common and generosity of the earlier periods of life wil 
Council of the city, and the people's representa- prompt you to aid in asserting the rights of th< 
lives, of the direction and control of the Fire Dc- injured, and in resisting aggression everywhere 
parlment, and place it under the control of the When last wc appealed to you, the federal parti 
presidents of the Insurance Companies; thereby had obtained an ascendency in the city councils 
again displaying their special fondness for incor- and boasted their ability to retain it. But the-* 



porated and chartered companies. 

They have passed an unwarrantable and un- 
necessary law altering the constitution of the 
criminal courts of the city, a law concerted to 



have been overthrown and defeated ; and not 
withstanding their false boastings elsewhere, fev 
in the city arc so hardy as to hope for, or clain 
success, in the coming contest. On the contrary 



deprive the people of a privilege long enjoyed, ami the democracy are united, sanguine, stung will 
never abused, that of electing two "of the judges a sense of W rnn ff ,»««»i<«."ied, and determined fc 
of the court of sessions, and have substituted «".i 

Ai- 



thc most glorious triumphs of democrac; 



I erf places, others, selected by the Albany ■ 
.,. rchy, dcprivinffjiifl court nf ;«- i^miar leaturcs ; 
thereby disclosing the old and inherent dread of 
the *' turbulent people," that has always charac- 
terized the federal party. 

They have passed a law known as the " Regis- 
try Law," proscribing the inhabitants of the city 

>f New York — placing upon them burdens not 
exacted from the inhabitants of other sections of 

FERNANDO WOOD, Chairman. 
R. B. Connolly, 
Samuel P. Goldson 



in its best days. New York city, in the work ol 
reform, will do its duty — will accomplish he 
part — more than her part. Let our friends in tin 
country sustain us ; let them act with energy 
concert, and zeal ; let the young men of the stat 
throw into the contest the natural enthusiasn 
and ardor of youth ; and the state of New York 
the empire state, will staad redeemed from th 
curse of federalism. 



■A 



Secretaries. 



«$ $£&&>> 




